3,236 American troops did not die to protect our freedom. They didn't die so we can live our lives without fear of tyranny and oppression. They died because we failed them as a responsible people, because we didn't make a difference when a difference was needed, because we weren't strong enough to do the right thing.

It is our job to make sure our troops have not died for nothing. For every time you could have spoken out, every time you could have voiced your opinion, raised your hand, pointed your finger, signed your vote, and you didn't, you are responsible. We are all responsible.

And now we have to bear the burden of our responsibility. We can all make a difference now. Do something good when you would have done nothing otherwise. Remember the people who died, without ever having the chance. We all have the chance now.

When you are tired, when you are broken, draw strength from them. They didn't die to give us freedom, but if every man and woman becomes a better person because just once they remember, remember that we sent our children off to die for nothing, and there was just a little more we could have done, let that drive you to make a difference now - to take that extra step, lift your head when you want to give up, give the last ounce when you have nothing left to give.

In every breath we take we can redeem our fallen troops. Live a better life for the ones who gave theirs, and their deaths will have meaning.

Just think about it. Just think about one man. Choose one:


Be a better person for him. Think about him when you are hurt, when you are tired. You are the only one who can make his death mean something. But if all of us, everyone here, and all our friends, and all our families, do something good, if we make a difference, they will have given their lives for something.

We already let our sons, our daughters, our fathers and our mothers, our sisters and brothers down. Don't let them down again. Make a difference. Change minds. Speak out. Promote peace. Share love. Spread knowledge, encourage tolerance, perpetuate understanding. Vote.

Each one of us can make a difference but it has to start somewhere. Make it start with you. Good deeds will spread, and someone, somewhere will decide to speak up and take action because they saw you do it first. That is a chance we all have a responsibility to take. Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for your grandchildren, do it for your neighbor, do it for your boss, do it for your teacher, do it for your enemy, do it for your friend - no matter who you do it for, remember the ones who never came home, and do it for them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I wish I could make more of a difference myself. Maybe if I was just a little better writer, or had a little bigger audience, if I could say what I feel inside just a little better. We all have to start somewhere my friends. This isn't where I am starting, and it certainly isn't where I'm ending, but it is another step along the way.

Peace -

Ben

Wow, that was beautiful. Way too nice for the regular crowds of GD, but hopefully it won't be ruined by the usual suspects. I think you expressed yourself pretty well here and I like your message. If you just reach out and affect just one other person in a positive way, then you've made a difference, and I'd say you're doing a good job of that. No one can change the whole world by himself, but if we each make the little contributions we can, influencing others to do the same, people can accomplish great things.
Good Night.

That's really beautiful, B

Thank you

Nice post Ben. It's always good to try and take a step back to reflect. Sometimes it can be harder than it sounds.

Please feel free to comment...

Very moving.

very nice..

i wish this post had stayed in GD because i think it would do more good for readers there; people who come to this thread already have their strong feelings and opinions on this subject

i finally read this, very moving.

I suppose writing 30 posts in the N&D every day forum isn't enough, eh?

I sometimes wish that I had someone I could think of that would inspire me to be a better person on a day-to-day basis. I wouldn't want to have had to lose that person to get that inspiration, but I think you know what I mean. Usually I just think of my kids, but that is more helpful to me in putting my head down and doing my job when I really don't want to.

Good post.

While I do not dispute that it is a very well written piece...as it is...i do easily recognize the OBVIOUS liberal views and agenda at the heart of it.

It is nice to think of ourselves trying to become a better person on a day to day basis, but to bury our head in the sand and believe that everyone thinks like we do is just not responsible. Many of us would love to see a peaceful world, but is this really possible? What with all the different viewpoints and religions in our world?

World peace is a nice thought. But is it possible?